HOW on earth is the Premier League going to top last season’s sensational campaign? Surely, it can’t be done.

What could beat Leicester, relegation favourites in the eyes of many people, winning the title? As Premier League chairman Richard Scudamore said: “It’s the biggest story we’ve ever had.”

Then there was defending champions Chelsea finishing a distant 10th and sacking the most successful manager in their history – Jose Mourinho.

But my first prediction for season 2016-17 is that it will be even BETTER. Not in terms of the unlikely nature of the champions but because of the ferocious battle for the title.

This will be the most open title race yet, with SIX clubs fighting it out for the top prize. And for me, that six pack won’t include Leicester, despite their wonderful exploits last season.

The fabulous Foxes will also have the Champions League on their agenda this season, which will be a major – though welcome – distraction. So I see this being the season when the big boys snap back.

That’s three from London – Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea – and three from the North West, City and United of Manchester, plus Liverpool.

Three of those clubs are under exciting new management with Mourinho at United, Pep Guardiola at City and Antonio Conte at Chelsea.

Three proven winners to mix it with Arsene Wenger at Arsenal and Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham, who should both reflect on a missed opportunity to win the league last season.

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Then there’s Jurgen Klopp, who arrived at Liverpool last season and made an immediate impact which is set to continue. Charismatic Klopp has had a first-hand look at the Premier League and warned Guardiola he’ll find it tougher at City than he did at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

The Kop boss said: “The competition makes it really interesting. Winning the title in England is the biggest challenge of them all. If you are Spanish champion three times in a row and then three times in a row Bundesliga champion, then you think, ‘Okay, let’s try something else’.

“And if you are looking for the biggest challenge, then you need to go to England.”

Picking a winner is difficult but I’m going for the manager in that group who has most recently led a team to the top of the mountain – Mourinho.

At the other end of the table, there will be the usual desperate fight for survival.

Sunderland are the division’s great escapologists, with Sam Allardyce fronting their latest Houdini act last season. The Black Cats’ preparations were disrupted by Big Sam taking the England job.

But they recruited the best possible replacement in former Everton and Man United boss David Moyes.

As ever, it will be tough for the promoted clubs, particularly Hull and Burnley.

And Watford will need strikers Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo to stay fit if they are to keep their heads above the relegation water – which will also lap around much-changed Southampton and their neighbours Bournemouth.

THE stakes are higher than ever in the Premier League this season – on and off the pitch.

There are bank-busting sums of cash on offer for every club involved – and a desperate need for each to invest well enough before this month’s summer transfer deadline to ensure they will be staying in the loaded English elite.

Easier said than done, of course, when every club is armed to the hilt with millions – thanks to a record TV rights deal – and has a scouting network monitoring every player’s every move, home and abroad.

A flood of super-managers have arrived on our shores – but make the most of them while you can as it is impossible all will still be around in 12 months’ time.

Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger, Jurgen Klopp, Mauricio Pochettino, Antonio Conte and the all-conquering Claudio Ranieri are names that roll off the tongue when discussing the finest tactical masterminds in football at the moment.

Not only does that long list eclipse anything found in Europe at present, it is quite possibly the greatest collection of illustrious coaching talent ever assembled in one place at the same time. However, there is a snag to the mouth-watering situation.

All of them, bar Leicester supremo Ranieri, must secure Champions League qualification – at the very least – or be deemed a flop. That’s four places between six seriously motivated men and their clubs, suggesting there will be big-name casualties along the way.

It should be one hell of a scrap and produce another rollercoaster season with thrills and spills at every turn.

And, after England’s humiliating Euro 2016 exit, this is exactly what the Premier League chiefs need.

Without it, the most lucrative, most talked about and most watched domestic league on the planet will struggle to retain its huge appeal and top-dog status.

PREDICTIONS:Prem winners: Man CityRelegated: Hull, Watford, Burnley

Tony Stenson:

BOOKIES, who rarely get things wrong – apart from the odd Leicester head-rush – sense big things are about to happen at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola. And they look likely to rule the roost here – and possibly in Europe – for some time.

The bookies claim the Premier League is the most wide open ever, with six teams at 10-1 or shorter for the title and champions Leicester 25-1 to defend their crown. Then they tell you the real truth, with City down as one of the lowest-priced favourites ever to win the title at 9-4.

Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs follow but City should romp it and restore order.

Leicester’s success was lovely but it was the kind of blip that happens when the top guns shoot each other down and the nice guys emerge from the gunsmoke.

You feel there’s an energy about City, missing from other clubs – although money does help of course.

Chelsea are still in recovery mode, while United won’t win anything until they strengthen their defence. Ditto Arsenal. Spurs look good but have shown they can run out of steam.

As for Liverpool? The jury is out. It all adds up to a fascinating season.